By 2-to-1, Americans Want Supreme Court to Decide the Question

New York -- A poll released by ABC News today shows record support for the freedom to marry, with 58% of American voters in favor of allowing same-sex couples to legally marry, and only 36% opposed. Moreover, 64% of Americans say the freedom to marry should be decided nationwide under the Constitution, not patchwork state by state, with only 33% opposed.

Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, said: “This latest poll underscores America's dramatic and stunning embrace of the freedom to marry, and says to decision-makers -- lawmakers, judges, and even justices -- that it is time to end marriage discrimination. By nearly 2-l, 64-33 percent, Americans understand that the freedom to marry ‘should be decided for all states on the basis of the U.S. Constitution,’ not confined to the house divided of unequal treatment and legal patchwork that confront loving and committed couples today. With a super-majority of Americans now supporting the freedom to marry, and majority support in nearly every segment of the public, the freedom to marry's time has, indeed, come."

Among the key findings in the poll is support for the freedom to marry among:

72% of Democrats

62 % of independents

71% of moderates

81% of those under age 30

70% of non-evangelical white Protestants

59% of Catholics

61% of non-whites

The poll asked, “Do you think each state should make its own law on whether same-sex marriage is legal or illegal there, or do you think this should be decided for all states on the basis of the U.S. Constitution?” Sixty-four percent of respondents said question should be decided on the basis of the U.S. Constitution rather than by each state making its own law on the issue, with only 33% opposed.

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Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.